Page 66 of Afternoon Delight
“Why don’t you show your Grandpa? Be gentle. It’s just a baby.” I carefully transferred it into his cupped hands.
He was so enthralled, he hardly noticed as Kyle scooped him up. “Thanks.”
“Impressive.” Zak held the door for them, but hung back as they crossed into the antique shop. “Once Lance sees Ollie got a toy from here, though...”
“Can open, worms everywhere.” I plucked out a chick for the older boy.
“And Jade.” Zak kept his hand out.
“Good grief, Mom will charge me.” I forked over the last chick.
“What are you doing this weekend?” he asked, still holding the door.
The way his gaze flickered over me with speculation lit all sorts of unruly sparks of thought.
“I’m bringing Roddie to you so you can help him refinish his dresser.”
“Right. I didn’t forget. I was testing you.” He winced. He had definitely forgotten.
“After I take him home, I have to come back here to host a workshop. Perimenopause. Uterus owners only. Shelby should be at Mom’s by the time I get home from that.”
I tried to contain my excitement, but it was radiating from my smile. I couldn’t wait to spend time with my kids.
“That’s cool. You gonna bring her in here? Will I meet her?” He nodded toward the store.
“It’s spring break. She’ll be here all week, so yeah, I imagine she’ll want to see it.”
I glanced over my shoulder, suddenly apprehensive.
There was no good reason for me to be nervous. I wholeheartedly supported my daughter having complete agency over her sexuality. I’d told her how tampons worked and how to avoid STIs. This was just another angle on that same topic, but...
Whatever expression was on my face made Zak chuckle.
“Uncle Zak—” The door to Twice Is Nice opened with its habitual squeak and the clatter of the bell above it.
“And there he is. Talk to you later.” Zak slipped out to head off the eight-year-old before the boy could barge into this den of iniquity.
Chapter 37
Meg
Shelby stayed an extra night in Kelowna. She’d made it there safely on Friday night, but wanted to hang out with her friend until Sunday.
What could I say? She was an adult. I swallowed my disappointment and texted her to let me know when she was on the road again, adding:
Drive safe.
Roddie was up early Sunday morning, planning to play video games online with friends in Toronto. Mom was having lunch with an old neighbor who happened to be in town. I should have cleaned the garage, but I only washed my sheets, hid my sex toys since Shelby would be sleeping with me, then ran out to see Georgia.
Her recovery was coming along really well. She’d started physiotherapy, but she was working so hard to get back to full strength, she didn’t have much pep left after her exercises.
“You want me to leave so you can nap?” I asked when she yawned again.
“Do you mind? I still nap a lot, but less resentfully. It’s not the drugs making me sleepy, it’s healing and that’s okay. Oh, hey, take these back to the store before one of Gail’s kids gets into them.”
“Gail doesn’t want any?” I asked, taking the bag of sample toys I’d left a couple of weeks ago.
“She says her husband gives her all she needs.” She shrugged. “I kept the one I opened and put a list in there of the ones I think you should stock. Try some yourself. See what you think.”
